Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Charles
Myers
Smith
1905

–

1981

Cemetery:

Sunset Memorial Park

Evading capture rather than surrendering at the fall of the Philippine Islands, Charles Smith hid in the mountainous jungles of Mindanao. In December 1942, Smith along with two fellow mining engineers and a few Moro compatriots, outfitted a sailboat and began the two thousand mile journey to Australia with only a few charts and SmithÕs Brunton compass, arriving off Darwin, Australia on 4 January 1943. At General MacArthur’s request, he returned to the Philippine Islands with Chick Parsons the following month on a special mission that earned him the Distinguished Service Cross.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Captain (Corps of Engineers)

    Division:

    Philippine Guerrilla Forces

    Action Date:

    February 13 – July 20, 1943
    Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the Far East, General Orders No. 47 (August 18, 1943)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain (Corps of Engineers) Charles Myers Smith, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the Philippine Guerrilla Forces, in action against enemy forces at Mindanao, Philippine Islands, from 13 February 1943 through 20 July 1943. Captain Smith infiltrated from Australia to Mindanao aboard the submarine U.S.S. Tambor to assess the organization of guerrilla forces on it and other islands, and to set up a system of coastal watchers, an in particular to establish a coast watching station at Davao. The stations he helped to set up were a key element in fostering of the guerrilla movement in the Philippine Islands. Captain Smith’s extraordinary heroism, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Lieutenant Colonel (Corps of Engineers)

    Division:

    Philippine Guerrilla Forces

    Action Date:

    December 13, 1943 – October 20, 1944
    Headquarters, U.S. Forces-Pacific, General Orders No. 44 (August 18, 1945)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Colonel (Corps of Engineers) Charles M. Smith, United States Army, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the Philippine Guerrilla Forces, in action against enemy forces in Mindanao, Philippine Islands, from 13 December 1943 to 20 October 1944. After an earlier special mission in the Philippine Islands, Lieutenant Colonel Smith returned to the Philippines on the submarine U.S.S. Narwhal in December 1943, with the mission of setting up a radio station and organizing the guerrillas on the Philippine Island of Samar. He stayed there until General MacArthur’s return to the Philippine Island of Leyte in October, 1944. Lieutenant Colonel Smith’s extraordinary heroism, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.